Mukkuvar

Mukkuvar (also Mukkuva) are a social group or caste—primarily fishermen's community in India and cultivation of paddy, cattle especially cow and Chenai, cultivating grains and pulse.—living in the coastal districts of Kerala south Tamil Nadu and also known as Mogera, Marakala, Bestha, Meenagara etc. because earlier fishermen use to live in small islands formed by rivers which are known as mogaru and hence the name Mogera. Before the term Mogaveera was adopted, according to foreign traveler Buchhanan, Mogaveeras were referred to a Magayers. The other traveler scholar Thruston recorded that Mogaveeras were known as Mogers. According to Dr. Gururaj Bhatt, Mogaveeras were known as Mugers and Mugueyer. ‘ Mogaveera’ community was identified with ‘ Moga’ and ‘ yers’ in different combinations. Gujarat in India and also in Sri Lanka. It is a community that has differing ethnic identities based on the state or country of domicile. Although they may be an insignificant community in India, their social and numerical position makes them an important community in Sri Lanka. They are also found in Lakshadweep islands off India but are called as Melacherries.

Historically some believe that they are originally from East coast of Tamil Nadu who then migrated to Kerala, Sri Lanka and Lakshdweep. Also some may have re-migrated from Sri Lanka back to India and settled in the south western coastal side of Kerala.

Historically they are an important community in the affairs of Sri Lanka. Mukkuva Chiefs controlled large areas of lands in the western and eastern coast of Sri Lanka. This came about due to their military raiding parties during the medieval period that was recorded in local historical records such as the Kokila Sandeśa as the Mukkara Hatana or the fight of the Mukkaru.

Consequently, in western Sri Lanka, Mukkuva domination was brought to an end by the Sinhalese Kings with the help of Karaiyar or Karave mercenaries from India who generally settled in places vacated by Mukkuvas. Although some Mukkuvas are still found in the Western region. (see Udappu)

They call Eastern Sri Lanka as the land of singing fish. They also believe that they were settled here by a Tamil king called Pandia or during the period of a king Pandia. The Mukkuvar community is a major and main component of Eastern Tamils. They follow Mukkuva laws which is believed to be issued by king Pandia. Each and every script's end mentions this is the order of king Pandia.

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